Alternate takes ill juror's place after verdict is reached

June 16, 2006|ANITA MUNSON Tribune Staff Writer

KNOX -- Attorneys had a couple of unique jury situations to deal with in the murder trial of David Dozier. During jury selection, the 12 original jurors and two alternates were chosen from a pool of 48 people, according to a Starke County sheriff's deputy in the courtroom. All but one of the 48 had been questioned at that time. On the first day of the trial, one juror became ill and was excused, moving one of the two alternates into the vacant slot. The jury deliberated from around noon to about 2:43 p.m. Thursday, when it was announced a verdict had been reached. However another juror, around 3 p.m. -- and after casting his vote for a verdict, according to Judge Kim Hall -- became ill and asked to see the judge. After on-the-record questioning by Hall out of the presence of other jurors and courtroom spectators, the juror was excused. The final alternate, a woman, was then placed in the position of helping the jury cast new votes. The decision with the new juror was reached in fewer than five minutes. Following the reading of the verdict in the courtroom, all jurors responded individually to the judge that they had voted "guilty." Staff writer Anita Munson: amunson@sbtinfo.com (574) 936-2920